eisenhuth



2 Sheets Sheet l.

(No Model.)

J. W. EISENHUTH.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

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2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

J. W. BISENHUTH.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

Jag. 3

4, msmwmcm n c Athe valve-seat.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN IV. EISENHUTI-I, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE ELECTRIC VAPOR ENGINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,936, dated September 23, 1890.

Application filed March 7l 1890.

To alo' whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. EISENHUTH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Explosive Engines; andI hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to the class of engines adapted to be driven by the explosive force of gas admitted to andignited within the cylinder.

My invention consists in the novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements hereinafter fully described, and specilically pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, complete, and effective engine of this class.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure l is a vertical section of my engine in the plane of the crank-shaft. Fig. 2 is a part elevation and section at right angles to the plane of the crankshaft. Fig. 3 is a plan of the exhaust-valve. Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 5 is a view of the switch by which the current is cut out during the time it is not needed.

A is the frame-casting of the engine, the upper portion of which forms the cylinder c. Its central portion forms the bearings a of the engine shaft, and its lower portion a2 forms the outside casing or walls of a suitable carburetor. IVithin the cylinder a is the piston B, the rod b of which is connected with the engine-shaft C.

In Fig. 2,cl is the inlet-port controlled by a valve D and communicating with the gas-inlet pipe E, the lower end of which is inserted in a tubular socket portion F, cast with the lower portion of the frame, the inner end of said socket being in communication with the carburetor (represented generally by G) and consisting of wooden perforated partitions set within the outside casing or walls formed by the lower portion a2 of the main casting, said partitions forming evaporating-surfaces.

The pipe E is controlled by a valve e, and has Serial No. 343,074. (No model.)

communicating with it avalve-controlled air- 5 o connection e.

In Fig. l is seen the valve-chest II of the exhaust-port- The valveseat 7L of this chest is shown in Fig. 4, and consists of a circular surface having in it the sector-shaped or curved opening or port 7L', which co1nrnuni` catcs with the exhaust-pipe h2. Over this seat is adapted to rotate the valve I, (shown in Fig. 3,) said valve consisting of a vplate having in it the sector-shaped or curved port 6o t', adapted to turn into and out of alignment with the valve-seat port h.

The rotary valve I is operated by a valvestem J, which extends downwardly through the valve-chest, and has a rotary motion imparted to it by means of a pinion j on its lower end, with which a pinion c on the engine-shaft C engages. v

The engine is intended to work compressively and to fire the gases upon alternate 7o strokes, and it will be seen that the relative sizes of the gears and of the valve and seat ports are appropriate to this result.

The construction and arrangement of the electrodes for firing the gas is as follows: Referring to Fig. 1,1( is one electrode and consists of a sleeve passing through the side of the cylinder, having its outer end in the valvechest II and its inner end in the cylinder. The inner end of the sleeve carries a project- So ing plate 7c. This sleeve-electrode is fully insulated from the cylinder by a suitable nonconducting envelopment. (Shown at 7c The other electrode L consists of a bail or tube which passes through the outer electrode K, and is suitably insulated therefrom, as shown. The inner end of the electrode L carries a perforated plate Z, which lies directly under the projecting plate 7c of the outer electrode. Secured to the piston B is a contact-bar M, 9o having a point m, which is adapted to pass through the hole in the plate l, and a collar m,wl1ich is adapted to come in contact with the lower side of said plate at the time when the piston has reached the limit of its stroke 9 5 and the point m has come in contact with the plate 7c above. The contact-bar M is completely and thoroughly insulated from the piston, as is shown at mi, as it is not the intention herein to include the piston in the electric circuit, or in fact to include any portion of the engine, so that all these parts are thoroughly insulated from the engine.

The Aoperation of the engine, as far as described, is as follows: The inlet of gas is effected through pipe E and valve D. It is compressed by the piston and is immediately fired, thereby driving the piston down. The exhaust takes place on the return of the piston, and the compression and firing on the next stroke, as is usual with single-acting engines of this class. The exhaust takes place through the ported rotary valve and its ported seat. The firing is effected by making and breaking the contact between the two electrodes by means of the bar M. This contact is made when the piston rises, and

the point of the bar M, passing through the' perforated plate Z, comes in contact with the plate 7c of the outer electrode, and at the same time its collar mf comes in contact with the plate Z, thereby completing the circuit. Then as the piston withdraws and the point m separates from the plate 7c the spark is produced and the charge fired.

Inl order to make the engine as complete as possible, I have on one side of it, near its middle portion, a bracket N, on which is carried a dynamo n, operated by means of a belt n', extending between a pulley n2 on, the vdynamo-shaft and a pulley n3 on the engineshaft. It will be seen, therefore, that the engine generates its own source of electricity.

At the upper portion of the engine isa bracket O, on which is carried a storage-cell o of suitable construction and connected with the dynamo N below. On the same bracket is carried a spark-coil o.

P represents generally the circuit-wires extending from these electrical appliances to the insulated electrodes. Thus the engine carries and operates the necessary electrical devices for its own operation.

In order to avoid creating an electric spark, except upon alternate strokes of the piston, notwithstanding that the contact is effected at every stroke, I have the cut-out or switch mechanism shownvin Fig. 5.

On a bracket Q, extending from the side of the engine, are located normally-separated contact-springs q, which are connected with the circuit-Wires P, so as to form part of the circuit.

On the valve-stem .I is a cam q', so arranged and constructed that at proper'times it will force by contact one of the springs qinto contact with the other, thereby closing the circuit. The circuit therefore remains normally open at the switch q, and therefore even though the contact be made between the electrodes above, as heretofore described, if that contact does not take place on that stroke of the piston which is required for the explosion of the gases, the current is still 0E by reason of the open switch at q, but on the next stroke bottoni of the chamber is formed by a cross plate or diaphragm ct, and its top by a similar plate or diaphragm 0.5. Into this closed chamber I slip the carburetor-partitions G by removing door-plate a3 and inserting them through the opening, and then bolting the plate to its sea*`ag'ain. Thus I provide acomplete casing for the carburetor, which forms by these means a part of the engine, and the latter is rendered thereby completek within itself.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is d l. In an explosive engine, separated electrodes passing into the'engine-cylinder and insulated therefrom, one of said electrodes carrying a perforated plate, in combination with a contact-bar in line with the plate vand connected with but insulated from the reciprocating piston of the engine and adapted to project its point through the perforated plates to make and break the circuit between the separated electrodes, substantially 4as herein described.

2. In an explosive engine, an electrode passing into and insulated from the cylinder and having on its inner end a contact-plate, a second electrode passing into the cylinder and insulated therefrom and having on its end a perforated contact-plate, in combination with a bar connected with and insulated from the reciprocating piston of the engine and in line with the plates of the electrodes and adapted to come into .contact with both plates simultaneously by passing its point through the perforated plate, substantially as herein described.

IOO

IIO

3. In an explosive engine, the outer sleeve or electrode passing through the side of the cylinder and insulated therefrom, said sleeve having on its inner end a contact-plate k, and the inner bar or electrode passing through the sleeve and insulated therefrom, said bar having on its inner end the perforated contact-plate Z, in combination with the contactbar M, secured to the piston and insulated therefrom, said bar having a point adapted to pass through the perforated plate Z and come in contact with the plate Zo, anda collar adapted to come in contact with said plate Z, substantially as herein described.

4. In an explosive engine, the combination of the valve-chest H with the electrodes by which the spark is created to fire the gases, said electrodes passing into the cylinder and having their outer ends inclosed in the valvepiston therein, and the valve-chest H, in coinbination with the concentric electrodes insulated from each other and from the cylinder, said electrodes passing into the cylinder and having their outer ends within the valve-chest, substantially as herein described.

6. In an explosive engine, the cylinder, the piston therein, and the valve chest H, in coinbination with the concentric electrodes insulated from each other and from the cylinder, said electrodes passing into the cylinder and having their outer ends within the valve-chest, the plate 7a of one electrode, the perforated plate lof the other, and the contact-bar M, connected with but insulated from the piston and adapted to corne in contact with the two plates, substantially as herein described.

7. In an explosive engine, the combination of separated electrode-plates, one of which is perforated, the contact-bar in line with said plates, connect-ed with the reciprocating piston and adapted to project its point through the perforated plate to make and 'break the ci rcuit, the separated switch-springs q, let into the circuit, and a rotary cam operated by the engine for closing` the switch, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In an explosive engine, the electrodeplates lo and Z and the reciprocating contactbar M, operating in connection therewith, as described, in combination with the switch for opening and closing the circuit of the electrodes, consisting of the normally-separated contact-springs q, the valve-stem J, operated by the drive-shaft of the engine, and the cani q of said valve-stein for closing the contactsprings, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN XV. EISENHUTH.

Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, H. C. LEE. 

